Neil Armstrong

Neil Mackenzie Armstrong, C.M., a tireless worker for education

and arts, dies at 88.

Mr. Armstrong's work at two important Canadian institutions – The Ivey School of Business, and The Banff Centre – at pivotal times in their histories helped thousands of people, both Canadians and international participants, to realize their own potential.

Neil passed away peacefully March 6, 2014, in Canmore Hospital with his wife and family at his side. Neil is survived by his Wife, Marjorie, his brother Doug, his children, Lori, Blair, and Renee, his grandchildren Taylor, Bryce, Skye, Evan, Marcus, Neil and Garnet, his niece, Diane, and his son-in-laws, Dan and Patrice. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Cindi in 2011.

Born 14 October, 1925 in St. Catharines, Ontario to Beatrice and Garnet Armstrong, Neil spent his early years on the family farm during the Great Depression, and credited that experience – farm work, and hosting wandering homeless men in the family barn – for teaching him the pride of task completion, that fun can be found in daily chores; and that supporting good people in their time of need is important.

Although his mother was a teacher and school principal, Neil was more interested in sports than academics. He nevertheless graduated from grade school at the top of his class.

In 1940, helping bring in wartime harvests as part of the Farmer and Farmerette Brigade, Neil met Marjorie Joanne Swan, an attractive young woman who was to become his wife and lifelong partner. If he hadn't felt the need to impress Marjorie, he said, he wouldn't have managed to salvage his marks in High School. More to his nature, and in spite of his size, he won an Athletic Letter in Football.

Neil held the rank of Senior Cadet in St. Catharines Squadron 23 Air Cadets, and was keen to help win the war as a Spitfire pilot, but the RCAF test for colour blindness foiled those plans. After joining the navy and studying the new field that became sonar and radar, he moved to Signals because he thought that would get him into the war sooner. He served in the 41st Minesweeping Flotilla in the North Atlantic off Halifax.

The tuberculosis Neil caught in the Navy was diagnosed during his first years of study at the University of Western Ontario. He expected Marjorie might drop him when she learned of his sickness, instead she proposed they get married. They did so August 14 1948.

At UWO, Neil joined the Faculty of Business Administration after he graduated with Honors in 1949. Neil worked in the fields of Management Development, and Graduate counseling and placement, assisting some 10,000 graduates over his 22 years on faculty.

At the invitation of David Leighton, Neil came to Banff with his family in 1972. During his tenure, the School of Fine Arts (now known as the Centre for the Arts) evolved from a summer school providing intensive, short training programs for talented young aspirants to professional careers, to a year-round advanced arts centre serving the needs of practicing artists from Canada and abroad.

Neil was also active in many national and international arts organizations at the executive, board, and advisory levels. He was a founder and first president of the Canadian Festival of Youth Orchestras and the Canadian Association of Youth Orchestras. He also founded and was chairman of the International Symposium on the Arts.

In 1989, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. At the presentation ceremony, his achievements were summarized in the following words: 'From business administration to the world of fine arts, his contributions to education and the cultural development of the country have been outstanding … the role he has played in the evolution of the Banff School of Fine Arts … has demonstrated the utmost commitment and dedication to improving, promoting and encouraging the arts and young Canadian talent." A tireless worker and an inspired administrator, Neil had a profound understanding of The Banff Centre and of what it could become.

Neil felt privileged to have worked with gifted colleagues and visionary leaders. Indeed when Neil was recently asked what made him most proud about his work life, he replied, simply, it was how much Dave Leighton trusted him.

A few days before he died, Neil credited Marjorie for being the lifelong source of his courage to enthusiastically embrace change. He knows she will continue to inspire bravery in their grandchildren.

We would like to thank the many caregivers who helped Neil and who continue to help Marjorie. First among these is eldest daughter, Lori.

If desired, donations may be made to: the Neil and Marjorie Armstrong Endowment fund at the Banff Centre (www,banffcentre.ca/support); to the University of Western Ontario - J.J. Wettlaufer Fund, or Walter A. Thompson Faculty Fellowship (kendralealess@uwo.ca, www.westernconnect.ca/giving); or to a charity of your choice.

A celebration of Neil's life was held at their home in Canmore on Sunday 27 July 2014.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.